Hydraulic boom cart system

ABSTRACT

A hydraulic boom cart system for elevating and positioning material within confined spaces. The hydraulic boom cart system includes a base structure, a first boom pivotally attached to the base structure, a second boom slidably positioned within the first boom, a first actuator attached between the base structure and the first boom, a support tube pivotally attached to the second boom, an inner tube rotatably positioned within the support tube, and a support attachment attached to the inner tube.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable to this application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates generally to elevating devices andmore specifically it relates to a hydraulic boom cart system forelevating and positioning material within confined spaces.

[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0006] Material elevating devices such as forklifts and tractors havebeen in use for years. Conventional material elevating devices require amotor to provide power to the material elevating devices. In addition,conventional material elevating devices are relatively large in size anddifficult to operated in small and confined areas.

[0007] Examples of patented devices which may be related to the presentinvention include U.S. Pat. No. 2,917,189 to Isaacs; U.S. Pat. No.5,259,721 to Sato et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,621 to Fatemi et al.; U.S.Pat. No. 6,286,695 to Tetreault; U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,299 to Jesswein;U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,963 to Wohlwend; U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,039 to Macris;and U.S. Pat. No. 2,804,979 to Lassiter.

[0008] While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose towhich they address, they are not as suitable for elevating andpositioning material within confined spaces. Conventional materialelevating devices are not suitable for elevating and positioningmaterial loads in confined spaces.

[0009] In these respects, the hydraulic boom cart system according tothe present invention substantially departs from the conventionalconcepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides anapparatus primarily developed for the purpose of elevating andpositioning material within confined spaces.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the knowntypes of material elevating devices now present in the prior art, thepresent invention provides a new hydraulic boom cart system constructionwherein the same can be utilized for elevating and positioning materialwithin confined spaces.

[0011] The general purpose of the present invention, which will bedescribed subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new hydraulicboom cart system that has many of the advantages of the materialelevating devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features thatresult in a new hydraulic boom cart system which is not anticipated,rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior artmaterial elevating devices, either alone or in any combination thereof.

[0012] To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a basestructure, a first boom pivotally attached to the base structure, asecond boom slidably positioned within the first boom, a first actuatorattached between the base structure and the first boom, a support tubepivotally attached to the second boom, an inner tube rotatablypositioned within the support tube, and a support attachment attached tothe inner tube.

[0013] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofmay be better understood, and in order that the present contribution tothe art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of theinvention that will be described hereinafter and that will form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0014] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not beregarded as limiting.

[0015] A primary object of the present invention is to provide ahydraulic boom cart system that will overcome the shortcomings of theprior art devices.

[0016] A second object is to provide a hydraulic boom cart system forelevating and positioning material within confined spaces.

[0017] Another object is to provide a hydraulic boom cart system thatdoes not utilize a motor.

[0018] An additional object is to provide a hydraulic boom cart systemthat may be manufactured and sold at a relatively inexpensive price.

[0019] A further object is to provide a hydraulic boom cart system thatis versatile and capable of handing various material loads.

[0020] Another object is to provide a hydraulic boom cart system that ismanually operated and manipulated.

[0021] A further object is to provide a hydraulic boom cart that may beutilized in various facilities and locations.

[0022] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeobvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects andadvantages are within the scope of the present invention.

[0023] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, thisinvention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawingsare illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specificconstruction illustrated and described within the scope of the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of thepresent invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomesbetter understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0025]FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present invention withthe boom in a lowered position.

[0026]FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention.

[0027]FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention in an elevated andextended position.

[0028]FIG. 4 is a side cutaway view of the present invention with theboom in the elevated and extended position.

[0029]FIG. 5 is a front end view of the present invention.

[0030]FIG. 6 is a rear end view of the present invention.

[0031]FIG. 7 is a top view of the present invention.

[0032]FIG. 8 is a top view of the present invention with the supportattachment rotated.

[0033]FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

[0034]FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG.8.

[0035]FIG. 11 is an upper perspective view of the present invention withan alternative support attachment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similarreference characters denote similar elements throughout the severalviews, FIGS. 1 through 11 illustrate a hydraulic boom cart system 10,which comprises a base structure 20, a first boom 30 pivotally attachedto the base structure 20, a second boom 32 slidably positioned withinthe first boom 30, a first actuator 38 attached between the basestructure 20 and the first boom 30, a support tube 40 pivotally attachedto the second boom 32, an inner tube 66 rotatably positioned within thesupport tube 40, and a support attachment 60 attached to the inner tube66.

[0037] The present invention includes a base structure 20. The basestructure 20 is preferably sufficient in size and weight to preventinstability when a load is supported upon the support attachment 60. Thebase structure 20 may have various structures and configurations. FIG. 1illustrates the base structure 20 having a rectangular structure with aslot for receiving the boom structure. The base structure 20 has aplurality of wheels 22 which may be comprised of swivel wheels 22 asshown in FIGS. 1 through 6 of the drawings. A manual brake may bepositioned upon one or more of the wheels 22 for preventing movement ofthe base structure 20 in a selective manner.

[0038]FIGS. 1 through 4 best illustrate the first boom 30 pivotallyattached within the base structure 20 by a main pin 24. The first boom30 is preferably comprised of a tubular structure and may have variouscross sectional shapes such as but not limited to circular, square andrectangular.

[0039] A second boom 32 is slidably positioned within the first boom 30as further shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings. The second boom32 includes a plurality of alignment apertures 34 that allow forselective engagement of the desired position of the second boom 32 bythe insertion of a first pin 36. The user is able to adjust the overalllength of the boom structure by sliding the second boom 32 with respectto the first boom 30 and then inserting the first pin 36 through anaperture within the first boom 30 aligned with the desired alignmentaperture 34.

[0040] A first actuator 38 is pivotally attached between a floor 26 ofthe base structure 20 and the first boom 30. The first actuator 38 maybe comprised of various actuator devices such as but not limitedhydraulic cylinders, hydraulic jacks, electrical actuators, screwactuators and the like. The first actuator 38 is manually operated bythe user for elevating and lowering the first boom 30.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawings, a support tube 40is pivotally attached to the distal end of the second boom 32. Thesupport tube 40 has an inner lumen that extends substantially upwardlyas best illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings. The support tube40 is preferably movably in a pivotal manner along a vertical path asillustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

[0042] A second actuator 50 is preferably pivotally attached between thesecond boom 32 and the support tube 40 for providing the desired pivotalposition for the support tube 40 as further shown in FIGS. 2 through 4of the drawings. The second actuator 50 may be comprised of variousactuator devices such as but not limited hydraulic cylinders, hydraulicjacks, electrical actuators, screw actuators and the like. The secondactuator 50 is manually operated by the user for pivoting the supporttube 40 relative to the second boom 32.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 11 of the drawings, a supportattachment 60 is attached to the support tube 40. The support attachment60 may be comprised of various structures for loading, supporting andunloading a material load. FIGS. 2 through 5 of the drawings show aninner tube 66 rotatably positioned within the inner tube 66 forrotatably supporting the support attachment 60. A second pin 67 isinserted through an aperture within the support tube 40 into one of aplurality of apertures within the inner tube 66 for locking a desiredrotated position of the support attachment 60.

[0044] The support attachment 60 preferably includes a first portion 62attached to a second portion 64 in a substantially orthogonal manner asbest illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings. The secondportion 64 is attached to the upper end of the inner tube 66 as bestillustrated in FIG. 9 of the drawings. FIG. 11 illustrates analternative support attachment 60 comprised of a pair of fork members 70extending from the second portion 64. Various other structures may beutilized to construct the support attachment 60.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 of the drawings, one or more firstbrackets 68 are attached to the second portion 64. FIGS. 2 through 4 ofthe drawings further illustrate one or more second brackets 69 attachedto the first portion 62. One or more straps 12 may be utilized to securethe load to the support attachment 60 by securing to the first brackets68 and the second brackets 69.

[0046] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operationof the present invention, the same should be apparent from the abovedescription. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the mannerof usage and operation will be provided.

[0047] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realizedthat the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of theinvention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed to bewithin the expertise of those skilled in the art, and all equivalentstructural variations and relationships to those illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification are intended to beencompassed by the present invention.

[0048] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only ofthe principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modificationsand changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. A hydraulic boom cart system for supporting a material loadin an elevated position, comprising: a base structure; a plurality ofwheels attached to said base structure; a boom structure pivotallyattached within said base structure; a first actuator attached betweensaid base structure and said boom structure; a support attachmentpivotally supported at a distal end of said boom structure.
 2. Thehydraulic boom cart system of claim 1, wherein said support attachmentincludes: a support tube pivotally attached to said distal end of saidboom structure; an inner tube rotatably positioned within said supporttube; and a support frame attached to said inner tube for supporting amaterial load.
 3. The hydraulic boom cart system of claim 2, including asecond actuator attached between said boom structure and said supporttube.
 4. The hydraulic boom cart system of claim 3, wherein said supporttube is pivotally attached to said boom structure in a vertical manner.5. The hydraulic boom cart system of claim 2, wherein said support frameis comprised of a first portion and a second portion attached together,wherein said second portion is attached to said inner tube.
 6. Thehydraulic boom cart system of claim 5, wherein said first portion andsaid second portion form an L-shaped structure.
 7. The hydraulic boomcart system of claim 5, including at least one first bracket attached tosaid second portion.
 8. The hydraulic boom cart system of claim 7,including at least one second bracket attached to said first portion. 9.The hydraulic boom cart system of claim 2, including a second pininsertable within an aperture within said support tube and a selectedaperture within said inner tube.
 10. The hydraulic boom cart system ofclaim 1, wherein said base structure includes a center slot forreceiving said boom structure.
 11. The hydraulic boom cart system ofclaim 1, wherein said boom structure is comprised of: a first boompivotally attached within said base structure by a main pin; a secondboom slidably positioned within said second boom; a plurality ofalignment apertures within said second boom; a main aperture within saidfirst boom; and a first pin insertable within said main aperture and oneof said plurality of alignment apertures.
 12. The hydraulic boom cartsystem of claim 11, wherein said support attachment includes: a supporttube pivotally attached to said distal end of said boom structure; aninner tube rotatably positioned within said support tube; and a supportframe attached to said inner tube for supporting a material load. 13.The hydraulic boom cart system of claim 12, including a second actuatorattached between said boom structure and said support tube.
 14. Thehydraulic boom cart system of claim 13, wherein said support tube ispivotally attached to said boom structure in a vertical manner.
 15. Thehydraulic boom cart system of claim 12, wherein said support frame iscomprised of a first portion and a second portion attached together,wherein said second portion is attached to said inner tube.
 16. Thehydraulic boom cart system of claim 15, wherein said first portion andsaid second portion form an L-shaped structure.
 17. The hydraulic boomcart system of claim 15, including at least one first bracket attachedto said second portion.
 18. The hydraulic boom cart system of claim 17,including at least one second bracket attached to said first portion.19. The hydraulic boom cart system of claim 12, including a second pininsertable within an aperture within said support tube and a selectedaperture within said inner tube.
 20. The hydraulic boom cart system ofclaim 11, wherein said base structure includes a center slot forreceiving said boom structure.